KARACHI, Feb 1: The transport problem in parts of Malir, especially in Khokhrapar, has aggravated due to violation of traffic rules by transporters who indulge in overloading and overspeeding.

Old and rickety vehicles ply most of the routes and transporters have also been overcharging passengers, area people say.

Buses end their journey before their terminus, they complained, adding drivers do not pick up women and children, and do not stop vehicles on designated bus stops.

Most of the vehicles remain off-road as they are also hired by certain industrial units or the owners prefer picnic parties.

Seats for women on buses are so designed that they expose women to ogling by conductors and drivers.

Moreover, a large number of routes have been shifted from Khokhrapar-Malir during the last several years.

Area residents have expressed resentment over the shifting of routes to other parts of the city and said at least nine routes had been shifted to other localities in the past few years because of machinations by transporters. These routes are lucrative for transporters.

The Metrobus Service, which was launched a couple of years ago, has not been extended up to Khokhrapar although a terminus had been established by the defunct KMC at the KTC depot. At present, the terminus is being used by influential people for wedding parties, and buses are parked at roadsides.

The Metrobus had to curtail its route because on the first day of its service political activists stopped two of its vehicles and demanded protection money. It forced the government to revise the route and at present the bus service is available between Tower and Model Colony. So the residents of Khokhrapar have to take another bus to get Metrobus in Model Colony. They have to pay Rs5 to reach Model Colony. The Metrobus charges Rs20 for Tower.

F-16 minibus service, meant for North Karachi, was introduced some eight years ago. But the transporters of the route succeeded in getting the route shifted. Poor law and order situation and dilapidated condition of roads were blamed for its shifting.

Al-Noor coach, which plied between Khokhrapar and Tower, was shifted to some other route. All this was done with the active connivance of transport department officials. Zafran coach, which had been introduced in the early 90s, also abandoned its operation.

Another coach service, Qadri coach, could not continue as the D-6 route transporters forced it to leave the area.

The express services of the defunct KTC — 15-A, 15 and 15-E — originally sanctioned for Khokhrapar, where large buses used to ply, were also granted to Metrobus about two years ago where the 22-seater Metrobus had been plying, with Malir Cantonment being its terminus point.

Area residents have demanded restoration of the former KTC routes, saying the routes be given to those who could operate large buses from Khokhrapar because a population of nearly one million has been suffering due the non-availability of transport for many routes.

A large number of labourers working in Landhi-Korangi and Site live in Malir who in the absence of proper public transport face hardship commuting between their workplaces and homes.

Area residents said for the past seven to eight years there had been no bus service from Khokhrapar for Mills area, Site and Shershah. They said a few months back they had seen posters which announced that Kehar Enterprises would operate large new buses on the Shershah route. But it did not materialize. At present poor workers travelling between Malir and Shershah spend at least Rs 40 in bus fare daily as they have to change several buses to commute between their workplaces and homes.

Residents urged the authorities to restore the route of large buses between Khokhrapar and Shershah with a fare of Rs3-5.

In the past Khyber coach plied between Khokhrapar and Shershah and Mauripur, but it was closed down a few years ago. Since then, no bus or coach plies on this important route. Khyber coach now runs outside Malir. The route was closed down by transporters after at least four coaches of this fleet were torched by anti-social elements.

Area residents complained that the operators of buses of 44-A route were flouting the transport department’s directives and indulging in overloading. They said 44-A buses were not available on Sundays and other holidays. They said this was highly unreasonable and questioned the queer logic of transporters.

They also demanded extension of the 44-A route up to Mawach goth.

Residents also demanded of the transport department to set up an emergency hotline where the commuters could lodge complaints about violations of rules by transporters.